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Raiders' Matt Schaub sounding OK for season opener

By Jerry McDonald jmcdonald@bayareanewsgroup.com

Posted:
08/25/2014 04:13:02 PM PDT

Updated:
08/25/2014 10:32:26 PM PDT

ALAMEDA -- If all goes according to plan, a few days of rest will cure what ails the right elbow of quarterback Matt Schaub, and he'll be in the starting lineup when the Raiders open the regular season Sept. 7 against the New York Jets.

Schaub missed his second straight day of practice Monday, and although coach Dennis Allen hasn't ruled him out of the exhibition finale against Seattle, the likely scenario will have rookie Derek Carr getting the start and Schaub watching from the sideline.

Unlike last season, when Terrelle Pryor was essentially auditioning for the starting job against Seattle while Matt Flynn rested a sore elbow, Carr's work will be developmental unless Schaub's elbow doesn't respond to rest and treatment.

"We're going to take him day by day and try to make sure he's ready to go," Allen said.

Asked if he expected to be ready to play in the opener, Schaub said: "Absolutely. One hundred percent. Absolutely."

Schaub was nonspecific about when his elbow began to bother him.

"It's just something that's kind of come up," Schaub said. "It's lingered a little bit. But it's come up, and we're dealing with it. It's something we want to take care of and get out of the way now before we start the regular season."

Neither Schaub nor Allen was interested in the coincidental nature of how the Raiders changed quarterbacks a year ago at this time when Flynn played poorly, missed the exhibition finale with elbow tendinitis, and then lost his starting job to Pryor.

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"I don't know what happened last year. I don't know what happened with anybody who was here last year," Schaub said. "I just know myself and what we're going through right now to get ready for Week 1."

Said Allen: "I don't see those two situations as the same."

Indeed, while the Raiders were beginning to distance themselves from Flynn and give credence to the possibility that Pryor could start, Allen is still publicly backing Schaub and answered in the affirmative when asked if he expected Schaub to start the opener.

Even with confirmation of elbow soreness, Allen doesn't feel it's played a role in some of Schaub's difficulties in the passing game. Neither does Schaub.

"It hasn't really affected it," Schaub said. "It's just bothersome. It's just something I noticed and something I want to take care of and get out of the way."

Allen has maintained the Raiders' struggles with the first team in the passing game were because of mistakes in all areas ranging from protection to route running to dropped passes and some missed throws.

With all that to work on, Schaub has missed two full days of practice.

"Obviously that's something you'd like to have, but you've got to have a little bit of foresight in getting ready for the opening game, and that's what's the most critical," Allen said.

Carr appeared as unconcerned as Schaub and Allen about the condition of Schaub's right elbow.

"Schauby's going to be fine," Carr said. "There's no doubt in my mind. He is fine. I've seen him every day, I've seen what he is doing every day in the weight room, the meeting room, the field. He's just fine."

The Raiders must trim eight players from the roster to get to the NFL-mandated 75 by 1 p.m. Tuesday. Four of those spots could be cleared by placing cornerback DJ Hayden and guard Lucas Nix on the physically unable to perform list and running back Kory Sheets (Achilles) and tight end Nick Kasa (ACL) on injured reserve.

Allen said the Raiders probably would wait until Saturday's deadline to make the call on Hayden.

Linebacker Nick Roach (concussion), linebacker Sio Moore (neck strain) and tackle Menelik Watson (hip flexor) did not practice. Cornerbacks Chimdi Chekwa (knee) and Taiwan Jones (knee) are being targeted for Week 1. Tight end David Ausberry (knee) was moving well while working with the training staff.